COVID-19 Action Plan
Thank you for your support of Columbia College and for your continued interest in our institution. President Scott Dalrymple shared an update with our students, faculty and staff about the precautionary measures that are being put in place to keep our college community healthy.
From: Dr. Scott Dalrymple, President, Columbia College
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2020 12:15 PM
Subject: MUST READ: Columbia College's COVID-19 Action Plan
Dear Students,
The COVID-19 pandemic has become a growing concern for the entire world, and CC is certainly no exception. We are taking a number of actions to help keep the College community safe. Here I will outline some major decisions we’ve made. Many were difficult decisions, and some will hurt; but we must prioritize your health above everything.
DAY CAMPUS CLASSES & RESIDENCE HALLS
For the day campus in Columbia only, classes are canceled for next week, March 16-20, to allow time to shift courses to virtual formats. (Note one exception: Nursing Students in Columbia and Osage Beach will use next week to complete laboratory and clinical requirements that simply can’t be done virtually.) Once classes resume on March 30, all work will be completed virtually for the rest of the spring semester. Academic Affairs will be in touch soon with more details. Students living in residence halls are being asked to move out by noon on Wednesday, March 18. (Residential Life will consider exceptions for truly extraordinary circumstances.) We know this is short notice and apologize for the disruption. Student Affairs will be in touch soon with more details.
CCG IN-SEAT CLASSES
All Columbia College Global classes at all locations (including the Columbia Evening program) will shift to virtual classes starting this Monday, March 16. They will remain virtual until the end of the current 8-week school term. CCG will be in touch soon with more details.
ONLINE CLASSES
Online classes will be unaffected.
ATHLETICS
All official athletic activities are suspended through the end of the spring semester, with the exception of eSports, which can compete from anywhere. The NAIA is considering the effect of this on athletes’ future eligibility. I know how disappointing this will be for our student athletes and fans.
EVENTS
Beginning this Monday, March 16, all events at all CC locations, including Columbia, are hereby cancelled through the end of the spring semester. This includes both CC events and events sponsored by outside organizations. It includes Honors Convocation. Again, I understand how disappointing this news may be.
IVY CHAIN & COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES
The Ivy Chain and Commencement ceremonies in Columbia are scheduled for April 25, approximately six weeks from now. While we aren’t yet deciding to postpone them, there is a strong possibility we may ultimately have to do so. There are CCG commencement ceremonies scheduled for early May, and the same logic applies. Please tell family members to avoid non-refundable travel plans. I know how much commencement means, and we won’t make these decisions lightly.
There’s no good news here. I understand that some of these actions will create inconvenience, while others will cause disappointment. But this is a once-in-a-hundred-year event, calling for bold measures; not since the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918 has the world faced something like this. My great grandmother died in that epidemic, leaving my four-year-old grandmother an orphan. If I could go back in time and spare my family years of pain by announcing a few inconvenient and disappointing decisions, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
Please visit the College’s COVID-19 information page for helpful links and future updates.
Be well, and thank you for your grace and understanding during these extraordinary times.
Dr. Scott Dalrymple
President